The 139th running of the Kentucky Derby provided all the drama and theatrics one would expect from the most famous horse race in the world.
In the end, it even had something of a storybook ending.
Trainer Shug McGaughey, the Hall of Fame trainer who’s never won a Derby, looked on as his prized colt, Orb, put together a late surge to capture the annual Run for the Roses.
Orb came into the race as a 5-1 favorite thanks in large part to a stellar stakes/prep race campaign. McGaughey was thoroughly impressed at how his horse had been running through most of March and April, and felt confident as Orb tore it up during pre-race training at Churchill Downs.
He also had a special “ace” in his pocket – jockey Joel Rosario.
Rosario was largely credited for pacing Orb and cleverly picking his spot to make a run. Orb was running as far back as 17th place halfway through the race, but kicked it into overdrive down the stretch to win by two and a half lengths.
Rosario was blown away at how strong Orb looked down the stretch.
“I was really far back,” he told the Associated Press. “I said hopefully he can go faster than that. I was saying maybe I was too far back, but it was so easy.”
McGaughey was over the moon with the result. The 62-year-old is revered in the horseracing community, largely because he doesn’t rush horses into races and prefers to stay out of the spotlight.
However on Saturday, it was all on him.
“I’m thrilled to death for (the owners), thrilled to death for the people who put so much time into this horse, and, of course, I’m thrilled to death for me,” he told the Washington Post.
Finishing second to Orb was Golden Soul, a little-known entity from trainer Dallas Stewart. Golden Soul had only captured 14 Derby points in stakes races (under the new Derby points system) and was largely viewed as an afterthought.
By placing, Golden Soul played $38.60 and $19.40, and pleased his trainer in the process.
“This is one race you hate to be second,” Stewart told USA Today. “But you know what? I’m so proud of him.”
Third place went to Revolutionary.
This was an interesting story in itself as Revolutionary entered the race as a co-favorite (5-1) and was one of the five horses representing the powerhouse Todd Pletcher stable.
Revolutionary also had the advantage of being ridden by jockey Calvin Borel, who teamed with Pletcher to ride Super Saver to victory at the 2010 Kentucky Derby.
Revolutionary got lost in the pack to start the race, and like Orb, had to make a strong push to get back into contention. While he was able to place, he simply wasn’t able to make up enough ground to capture the Roses.
Not that Pletcher was disappointed.
“I thought he ran super. He got shuffled back farther than we thought and he had to keep waiting to try to make up ground,” he explained. “But when he could start running, he did really well.
“He closed strongly and just ran out of ground.”
Here are the full 2013 Kentucky Derby Results
1. Orb
2. Golden Soul
3. Revolutionary
4. Normandy Invasion
5. Mylute
6. Oxbow
7. Lines Of Battle
8. Will Take Charge
9. Charming Kitten
10. Giant Finish
11. Overanalyze
12. Palace Malice
13. Java’s War
14. Verrazano
15. Itsmyluckyday
16. Frac Daddy
17. Goldencents
18. Vyjack
19. Falling Sky
